Greiner resignation signals 'no-confidence' in O'Farrell

By state political reporter Liz FoschiaUpdated
Fri 24 May 2013, 4:54 PM AEST

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Nick Greiner resigned as chairman of Infrastructure New South Wales after two years in the role.

7pm TV News NSW

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell is facing accusations that departures at the top of Infrastructure New South Wales amount to a vote of no-confidence in him.

In State Parliament yesterday, Mr O'Farrell announced the resignations of the advisory body's inaugural chairman Nick Greiner and chief executive Paul Broad after just two years.

Mr O'Farrell says it is the right time to transition to a new leadership but State Opposition Leader John Robertson claims Mr Greiner, a former NSW Premier, and Mr Broad are moving on because they are frustrated with the Government.

"Nick Greiner has been all over town critical of Barry O'Farrell for building the North West Rail Link, for building CBD light rail, rather than building the major infrastructure that will grow the economy in NSW," he said.

"This is nothing more than his judgement of Barry O'Farrell after just two years."

Greens MP John Kaye fears Mr Broad's new job as chief executive of Snowy Hydro will put the privatisation of Snowy Hydro back on the agenda.

Infrastructure NSW and the state Commission of Audit have both recommended the State Government consider options for privatising the power generator, but Mr O'Farrell says it is not Government policy.

"This is bad news for those of us who are committed to ongoing public ownership of Snowy Hydro," Dr Kaye said.

"Paul Broad is a self-confessed admirer of Jeff Kennett and his privatisation program.

"Now he's been appointed to the CEO of Snowy Hydro one can only assume this is yet another step towards privatising the national icon."